Flexible device to secure a cushion onto foldable articles of furniture

ABSTRACT

A flexible device to releasably secure a cushion in a foldable article of furniture having a structure frame and a foldable cushion frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device to releasably secure a cushion on a foldable article of furniture.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a flexible device to permit easy securing of a cushion onto a cushion frame of a foldable article of furniture.

[0003] The present invention further relates to a device that is releasably securable to opposite ends of a foldable furniture frame and in contact with a cushion carried by a foldable cushion frame that adjustably and releasibly secures the cushion into place in the cushion frame during folding of the furniture and cushion frame.

[0004] The present invention further relates to a device that is useful in securing a cushion in place in a Futon foldable bed.

[0005] Foldable furniture is well known in the art. Such furniture may have a structural frame and is further equipped with a foldable cushion frame. The cushion frame carries a cushion that is supposed to stay in place during folding or unfolding of the foldable furniture.

[0006] It has been a recurring problem that the cushion will seldom stay in place during folding and unfolding of a foldable piece of furniture. Unerringly, the cushion will not fold in a manner conducive to folding the furniture, and will slip out of place from the frame. Those familiar with Futon beds are familiar with this problem.

[0007] The present invention is a solution to the problem of securing the cushion into place in the foldable furniture during all phases of operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a flexible device to releasably secure a cushion in a foldable article of furniture having a structure frame and a foldable cushion frame. A cushion is positioned on said cushion frame. In one embodiment, the device is comprised of a cinch strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends. The first end of the cinch strap is equipped with D rings. The second end of the cinch strap is bifurcated into ends releasably connectable with each other to form a loop to secure said cinch strap to said furniture frame at one point along said furniture frame. The device further includes a flexible strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends. The first strap end is bifurcated into ends releasably connectable with each other to form a loop to attach the first strap end to a point on the furniture frame distant from said point attachment for said cinch strap. The flexible strap length is in contact with the cushion and the second strap end is insertable into the D rings to permit adjustable tension to the flexible strap to secure the cushion in place on said cushion frame at all times.

[0009] In another embodiment, the device comprises a flexible strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends. At least one of said ends is equipped with an attachment device, shown as a side release but may be any other releasable attachment device. The device is further equipped with another attachment device slideably attached to said flexible strap and slideably positionable along the length of the flexible strap.

[0010] There is provided at least one cinch strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends; said first end equipped with D rings to form a cinch strap connection. The second end of the cinch strap is bifurcated into first and second ends, one of said bifurcated ends equipped with a device connectable with said flexible strap attachment device and the other of said bifurcated ends of sufficient length to loop around a member of said furniture frame and insertable through said D rings to permit adjustable tension to the flexible strap to secure the cushion in place on said cushion frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable article of furniture, showing the flexible device secured in place on the frame.

[0012]FIG. 1A is a back perspective view of a foldable article of furniture, showing its construction and the attachment of the flexible device thereto.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the furniture frame, showing the flexible device looped into place on the furniture frame.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the flexible device showing its construction.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the flexible device showing its construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Turning now to the drawings wherein like numbers refer to like structures, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 1A, foldable article of furniture 10 has structural frame 12 and supports foldable cushion frame 14. The structural frame may be constructed of wood or metal or plastic, and is shown as having arm rests 16 and horizontal frame members 18 and vertical frame members 20. The cushion frame has similar design, with longitudinal frame members 22 and latitudinal frame members 24. The cushion frame has a pivot mechanism 26 at a point along its longitudinal frame members such that the cushion frame is foldable along the pivot point across all the longitudinal frame members when it is pivoted the proper distance. The foldable article of furniture is also foldable about a pivot mechanism at a point along the horizontal frame members so that in one position, the foldable furniture is a horizontal surface, and in its folded position it has a back formed therein that is bent relative to the horizontal plane of the furniture frame. The cushion frame is foldable as described to be complementary in operation to the furniture.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a view of the flexible device showing its construction. Device 28 is comprised of a length 30 and a cinch strap 32. Length 30 extends for a distance, and terminates in opposed first and second ends 34 and 36, respectively. The first end is bifurcated into ends 38 and 40, respectively, and these ends are releasably connectable to each other to form a loop 42. The ends of the bifurcated end may be equipped with snap fits 44, or they may be equipped with Velcro patches 46, or any other device may be used to releaseably secure the ends of the bifurcated first end to form a loop. The opposite second end 36 is insertable into the cinch ring strap as will presently be described.

[0018] The cinch strap is a flexible strap that is equipped with D rings 48 and 50, respectively at one end thereof, and at the opposite end, the cinch strap terminates in a bifurcated ends 52 and 54, respectively, and are releasably connectable to each other to form a loop 56. The ends of the bifurcated end may be equipped with snap fits 60, or they may be equipped with Velcro patches 62, or any other device may be used to releaseably secure the ends of the bifurcated first end to form a loop.

[0019] In operation, a cushion 64 is placed onto the cushion frame. The cinch strap is secured to one point on the furniture frame by joining the bifurcated ends together to form a loop around a horizontal or vertical member of the furniture frame. The strap is further in contact with the cushion along at least a portion of the length thereof, and the opposite end of the strap length is threaded through the D rings on the cinch strap in the manner well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the strap length is thereby tightened. The tightening of the strap causes the cushion to be fastened into place on the cushion frame. In addition, the strap acts as a pivot point along which the cushion would fold when placed in cushion frame in the foldable article of furniture. It is further contemplated that the strap could run through at least one loop or sleeve 64 to ensure the strap does not loose contact with the cushion. The cushion can now be folded without moving from its seat in the cushion frame. It is preferred that the flexible strap be threaded through opening in the cushion covering so that the strap will extend along the length of the cushion and that it will be hidden from view.

[0020] In another embodiment as seen in FIG. 4, the device 66 comprises a flexible strap 68 having a length 70 terminating in first and second opposed ends, 72 and 74 respectively. At least one of the ends, for purposes of discussion, 72, is equipped with an attachment device 76, shown as a side release buckle and the flexible strap is further equipped with another attachment device 76 slideably attached to the flexible strap and slideably positionable along the length of the flexible strap. In this embodiment, that attachment device is the male portion of the side release buckle, depicted as attachment device 76. There is provided at least one cinch strap 78 having a length 80 terminating in first and second opposed ends, 82 and 84, respectively. The first end is equipped with D rings 86 to form a cinch strap connection. The second end may be bifurcated into ends, 88 and 90, respectively. One of the bifurcated ends is equipped with an attachment first and second opposed ends, 82 and 84, respectively. The first end is equipped with D rings 86 to form a cinch strap connection. The second end may be bifurcated into ends, 88 and 90, respectively. One of the bifurcated ends is equipped with an attachment device, 92, shown as a side release buckle connectable with said flexible strap attachment device. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the flexible attachment device and the bifurcated attachment device flexible strap attachment device are complementary ends of a snap fit device, shown as a side release buckle. It is contemplated that other releasably connectable devices may be used to achieve the desired result. The other of the bifurcated ends may be longer and is of sufficient length to loop around a member of the furniture frame and insertable into the D rings to permit adjustable tension to the flexible strap to secure the cushion in place on said cushion frame.

[0021] The flexible strap and cinch straps may be made of woven nylon or any other material that is durable and flexible.

[0022] While these embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A flexible device to releasably secure a cushion in a foldable article of furniture having a structure frame and a foldable cushion frame; said cushion positioned on said cushion frame; said device comprising: a cinch strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends; said first end equipped with D rings and said second end bifurcated into ends releasably connectable with each other to form a loop to secure said cinch to said furniture frame at one point along said furniture frame; and a flexible strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends; said first strap end bifurcated into ends releasably connectable with each other to form a loop to attach said first strap end to a point on said furniture frame distant from said point attachment for said cinch strap; said flexible strap length in contact with said cushion and said second strap end insertable through said D rings to permit adjustable tension to the flexible strap to secure the cushion in place on said cushion frame at all times.
 2. The flexible device of claim 1, wherein said bifurcated straps are equipped with Velcro patches to releasably connect to each other to form a loop.
 3. The flexible device of claim 1, wherein said bifurcated straps are equipped with resilient snap connectors to releasably connect to each other to form a loop.
 4. The flexible device of claim 1, wherein said cushion has a covering equipped with openings through which extends the length of the flexible strap.
 5. The flexible device of claim 1, wherein said furniture frame has a length terminating in opposed first and second ends; said cinch strap attached at said first end and said flexible strap attached at said second end.
 6. A flexible device to releasably secure a cushion in a foldable article of furniture having a structure frame and a foldable cushion frame; said cushion positioned on said cushion frame; said device comprising a flexible strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends; at least one end equipped with an attachment device and further equipped with another attachment device slideably attached to said flexible strap and slideably positionable along the length of the flexible strap; and at least on cinch strap having a length terminating in first and second opposed ends' said first end equipped with D rings to form a cinch strap connection; said second end bifurcated into ends, one of said ends bifurcated ends equipped with a device connectable with said flexible strap attachment device; and other of said bifurcated ends of sufficient length to loop around a member of said furniture frame and insertable through said D rings to permit adjustable tension to the flexible strap to secure the cushion on said cushion frame.
 7. The flexible device of claim 6, wherein said flexible strap attachment device and said cinch strap connection device are complementary ends of a snap fit device.
 8. The flexible device of claim 6, wherein said cushion has a covering equipped with openings through which extends the length of the flexible strap.
 9. The flexible device of claim 6, wherein said furniture frame has a length terminating in opposed first and second ends; said cinch strap attached at said first end and said flexible strap attached at said second end.
 10. The flexible device of claim 6, wherein said attachment device is a side release buckle. 